Uwazi

This week Freedom Forum recorded three incidents where Nepal police manhandled and arrested about a dozen of people for protesting against government actions.

On July 25, the police arrested three youth Arjun Poudel, Som Sharma, and Biplab Khadka for shouting slogans against Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at a program held in Kathmandu. They were released on July 26.

Again on July 28, the cadres of Nepal Communist Party, under Biplav's leadership were arrested for waving black flags against a visiting foreign official.

Similarly, in a separate incident, Khadka and Sharma were rearrested from Maitighar Mandala while staging demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The Bill has been passed by the House of Representatives amid public grievances and was scheduled to be passed by the National Assembly on the same day.

Freedom Forum vehemently condemns police action. FF strongly urges Nepal government to respect and hear the opinion and expression of every citizen which is prerequisite to functional democracy.

Moreover, right to peaceful assembly and protest is an fundamental human right in democracy. The Constitution of Nepal guarantees every individual the right to expression and peaceful assembly. The Local Administration Act, 2028 B.S. and Muluki Criminal Code, 2074 B.S. prohibits use of force over peaceful assembly unless and until it turns violent or there is a perceived threat to peace and security. The arrest and manhandle of protestors sitting with pamphlets, within the protests permitted vicinity is a sheer violation of law. These forms of intimidation puts chilling effect on the citizens to express their right to free expression, peaceful assembly and protest.

"Black flag protest is a civilized protest. Muzzling this peaceful form of protest to stifle dissent is against the democratic values. The right to peaceful assembly and expression is a bulwark of democracy. Government should respect this liberty vested on citizens. Dissent is a beauty of democracy. State should hear and acknowledge the dissent, rather than employing police force to suppress it." argued Taranath Dahal, Executive Chief at Freedom Forum.

Reporter at News 24 Televsion Lalan Kumar Mandal was attacked for reporting news in Mahottari on July 25. Mahottari lies in Madhesh Province of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, reporter Mandal shared that he had been following activities of Sanjay Rauniyar, an alleged loan-shark. On the day of incident, he reached the site of incident as per the information from victims of loan sharking.

Suddenly a clash broke at the site while he was taking video of victims' protest and then, body guards of Rauniyar attacked the reporter and locals.

"Though I said that I was a reporter they did not stop. I have been injured on hands and legs", he said.

"Thereafter, I filed a complaint at the local police station. Nepal police has arrested Rauniyar and is searching for other attackers", he informed.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is serious violation of press freedom. Attacking the reporter while reporting is sheer disresect of journalists' right to free press.

FF strongly urges the security authority to investigate the case fairly and ensure safety of the journalists to avoid any untoward incident in future.

Editor at https://narayanionline.com/ Krishna Acharya was attacked while reporting at electricity office in Chitwan on July 15. Chitwan lies in the Bagmati Province of Nepal.

Editor Acharya was reporting on the cocktail party at the Bharatpur Electricity Authority office during office hours. As per the tip-off that the authority had cutoff electric supply in the area reasoning maintenance but the staffs were partying at the office, Acharya reached the office and took photos and videos of the party. Meanwhile, the drunk staffs attacked Acharya and seized his mobile phones. His clothes were torn and he was injured. Acharya however, escaped any serious injury.

The drunk staffs obeying the order of their office chief also deleted photos and videos of the party taken by the editor.

On July 16, Nepal police arrested seven officials on the basis of complaint filed at District Police Office Chitwan against the seven officers and their office chief.

Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the attack upon journalist while reporting news. The public authority should be accountable towards service delivery and responsible for public safety. But such act of public officials against the notion of human rights and free press is deplorable.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to apologize for their misconduct and contribute to fair reporting atmosphere in future.

Journalist and right to information (RTI) activist Kailash Majhi was held in police custody for four days for his critical reporting about local leadership in Saptari. Saptari lies in Madhesh Province of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, a reporter at Mountain Television, Majhi said that he had been reporting on the irregularities and malfeasance of local authorities for long. He also uses RTI to collect information on the ongoing issues in the district. Recently, he had sought information on the activities of a construction consumer committee in the district using RTI.

Following this, the committee members abused him seeking information. On June 13, Nepal police arrested Majhi and charged him with indecent behavior. The case is registered at District Administration Office (DAO) under the Local Administration Act 2016 BS, Majhi informed.

"I am a journalist and RTI activist but they treated me like a criminal while in detention. I even do not know what crime I committed. Is reporting on irregularities a crime?", argued Majhi.

Majhi was released on June 17 with Rs.1,500 bail amount.

Senior Officer at Chief District Office, Saptari however refused to speak on the case with FF reasoning the case was sub judice at DAO.

FF condemns the harassment meted out to the journalist. The arrest and prosecution under the Local Administration Act, 2016 with intention to discourage journalists and RTI activist is sheer misuse of the Act and violation of the notion of press freedom and right to information.

The incident depicts state's authoritarian move against a citizen and a journalist which has direct impact on free exercise of his fundamental rights. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to present the case in the court of law rather than an executive body.

Reporter at Himalaya Television Prince Mishra and his cameraperson Ashvit Magar were obstructed from reporting in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

According to the information received at Freedom Forum, newly elected Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Balen Sah misbehaved with the reporters while they were reporting on waste management at Environment and waste management division, Teku.

Mayor Sah also asked his subordinate to delete the recorded footage and ordered reporters to leave the KMC premises immediately.

Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident. Obstructing reporters from doing their duty and threatening them to delete their reporting is the sheer violation of press freedom and authoritarian move of the municipal chief.

On June 6, police in Nepal killed an 18-year-old woman when they opened fire on protesters using tear gas and live ammunition. Villagers in Bardiya district had blocked a highway to demand the government do more to protect them from wild animals from a nearby national park, media reports said. It is the latest instance of police using excessive and lethal force against demonstrators.

The woman killed in the latest shooting, Nabina Tharu, was a member of a marginalized ethnic community in Nepal’s Terai region. Following the incident, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand told parliament that officials were meant to “resolve the dispute[s] … using the least amount of force. There was no order to shoot.”

As in previous cases, the government responded by appointing a committee to investigate the incident. However, the committee, comprised of police and officials from the Department of National Parks, lacks independence. Nepali authorities have previously used such committees to deflect allegations, and failed to hold police to account for the use of excessive force against protesters and for other abuses, even after the country’s human rights commission has found them responsible.

The protest began after a tiger attacked a local woman who was collecting firewood. Since 2019, media reports say tigers have killed nine people and wounded several others in the area, which is adjacent to a wildlife corridor.

While Nepal’s national parks are frequently hailed as a conservation success story, the Department of National Parks has also displaced indigenous people. Park wardens have draconian powers to arrest people without a warrant on suspicion of violating conservation laws. Wardens and soldiers guarding the parks, have been accused of arbitrary detention, torture, rape, and killing people from neighboring communities. National Park authorities also frequently fail to adequately protect or compensate people living nearby from loss and damage caused by wild animals.

Instead of forming yet another committee, Nepali officials should credibly investigate security officials and prosecute them where there is clear evidence of abuse. And Nepal’s national park authorities need to end their abusive practices and work in partnership with local people to promote conservation while upholding their rights.

Ward Chair at a rural municipality in Parbat issued threat of attack to journalist Laxman Sunar for news reporting on May 31. Parbat lies in Gandaki Province of Nepal.

Sunar is executive editor at https://nayannews.com/ (online news portal).

Editor Sunar shared with Freedom Forum that he had reported news about Mahashila rural municipality's ward chair Ram Bahadur Sunar cheating elder citizens in distribution of senior citizen's allowance. He had also recorded video of the complaint from victims.

"Ward chair Sunar then, threatened to cut my fingers and break hands and legs for writing news against him at the voting center on the day of election. He also accused me of defaming him during the election. Following his threat, I shared the incident with fellow journalists", he said.

"Today (June 2), I will file a complaint at the District Police Office, Parbat", he informed.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Threatening and abusing journalists at the public place is sheer violation of press freedom. The chairperson should have adopted legitimate ways, had he any dissatisfaction over published news.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to apologize for his behavior and assure to respect journalists right to free reporting in future.

Cadres of Nepali Congress led by Binod Dhakal, Chairperson of Nepali Congress Bharatpur-7, have mistreated a journalist who had reached the polling station at Krishnapur Secondary school of Bharatpur-7 to cover story of Jagannath Poudel, who had filed independent candidacy for the post of Mayor of Bharatpur after being denied candidacy from his party Nepali Congress on May 13. The journalist was in Krishnapur Secondary School's polling station in Bharatpur-7 to collect news when the cadres threatened the journalist to break their camera as well.

Police officers attacked journalists Mahendra Sapkota and Bhim Bahadur Sijapati while reporting at the vote counting site in Dailekh on May 16. Dailekh lies in Karnali Province of Nepal.

Journalists Sapkota and Sijapati are associated with Avenues Television and Radio Nepal respectively.

Police used force and started baton charge upon journalists and public in the crowd following a clash among cadres at the vote counting site.

Journalist Sijapati shared with Freedom Forum, "Even though we raised our hands and showed our press identity card, police persons pounded baton over us. We have received injuries on hands and legs."

Police inspector on-duty also threatened the reporters to take whatever action they could against the attack, informed Sijapati.

Dilmaya Shahil of Narayan Municipality-7 along with two journalists were injured after police charged baton to control a clash between two group of youths before the office of chief election officer of Dailekh on May 16. The journalists and general public who were waiting for information regarding vote counting fell prey to police action after they rampantly charged batons. According to DPO Dailekh, two security personnel from APF and Police sustained injury after being hit with stones pelted by the youths.

Mahendra Sapkota, vice president of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Dailekh and Bhim Bahadur Sijapati, working at Radio Nepal were injured in the incident. The injured treated at the local health post. According to the District Police Office, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were also injured in the incident.

Policepersons assaulted reporters while reporting a protest in Butwal on April 15. Butwal lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.

Journalists Sharan Kumar Karmacharya (www.khabarkura.com), Dinesh Shrestha (www.khabarkura.com),DB Sushling (http://www.globalawaj.com/), Santa Kumar Shrestha (Editor, https://samatalonline.com/) and Bijay Gyawali (https://jagaranpost.com/) were reporting on a protest being waged by the locals demanding fair probe on suspicious death a woman on Wednesday (April 13) in front of the Area Police Office.

The clash occurred among protestors and police persons while taming the protest. Meanwhile, the police person incharge at the protest grabbed journalist Karmacharya by beck and said, "We do not care about any journalist", when Gyawali tried to show his press ID card to the police.

According the media reports, police persons seized mobile phone of Sushling and threatened him to delete the recordings, threw the microphone of journalist Gyawali, and beat journalist Santa Shrestha with baton on his legs.

Freedom Forum condemns the police hostility to the journalists while doing their job. It is gross violation of press freedom. Nepal police should be aware of the journalists' right to free reporting and ensure their safety while taming the protest.

Nepal Police arrested a reporter at https://www.purbicommand.com/ Samjhana Rai along with two youtubers while covering a protest in Biratnagar on March 15. Biratnagar lies in Province-1 of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, editor of the online news portal Saroj Basnet said that reporter Rai was taking video of a protest by the locals demanding justice to the families of an 18-months old child who was raped and murdered few days ago.

Though the police have arrested the accused, locals have been protesting, demanding compensation to the victim families and severe punishment to the perpetrators.

"I met reporter Rai in the District Police Office today (March 16) and requested the officials to release her as she was just reporting the event but the officers said that they would instead file a case of public offense against the reporter and youtubers for publishing news with names of the victim's parents", added Basnet.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Arresting a journalist for covering news is sheer violation of press freedom. The statement of the police also depicts that they have deliberately arrested the reporter among the protestors. Together, journalists should maintain the privacy of victim, considering the sensitivity of the issues.

Freedom Forum has been concerned over digital harassment meted out against a noted journalist and rights activist Ms Babita Basnet for her article published on March 2.

Ms Basnet had written an opinion article, stressing the need of reviewing law on rape . It was published on www.ghatanarabichar.com on March 2.

With its publication, campaign on social media (Facebook and Twitter) was launched in protest of Basnet and her opinion. Even a coordinated camapaign in Twitter was spread with a hashtag #BoycottBabitaBasnet, thereby meting out digital harassment on rights activist and journalist Basnet.

Talking to FF, journalist Basnet shared that the movement had seriously disturbed her. “I wrote the article based on one of my own case studies and it does not target any individual, group or gender. But, whatever I am facing now for practicing my right to free press and free expression harassed me much. I think it is a deliberate move to ruin my career”, she observed.

To this, Chief Executive at FF, Taranath Dahal viewed, “Every citizen has the right to agree or disagree on anyone’s opinion. Both agreement and disagreement are their rights to free speech. But spreading harsh messages through coordinated campaign and boycotting the opinion writer is sheer instance of intolerance. Such intolerance not only harasses the opinion writer but also affects free speech atmosphere.”

Umesh Shrestha, editor of Nepal Fact Check, was summoned and harassed by officers from Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau after publishing a report on the dissemination of ‘fake news’ regarding the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact fund. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and its Nepal affiliate, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), condemn the arbitrary harassment of journalists for their work and call for an investigation into the incident.

According to a blog post published by Shrestha, on February 22, officials from the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau in Kathmandu summoned Shrestha under the pretense of a 'discussion'. Upon his arrival on February 23, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pradin Tamrakar harassed him and accused him of spreading misinformation regarding the MCC fund, a United States subsidised fund aimed at improving infrastructure in Nepal.

Shrestha, who is the founder of independent blog MySansar and an editor of Nepal Fact Check, a platform that investigates the content of Nepali media for false or misleading information, alleged that DSP Tamrakar threatened him with arrest.

According to Shrestha’s blog, the journalist was summoned by the Cyber Bureau following an article he published which documented a number of YouTube channels, news sites, and social media users in Nepal who spread misinformation regarding the MCC fund. The report also suggested measures to curb the spread of ‘fake news’.

“It is unfortunate that police harassed me even without knowing the content of my article. They asked me who provided the authority to write such an article. They treated me like a criminal. They were not ready to listen to me. They even threatened me with an arrest and tried to snatch my mobile phone when I tried making a call seeking help”, Shrestha said.

Shrestha was eventually released from the Bureau on February 23 after a one and half hour inquiry.

The MCC, an United States grant signed in September 2017 aimed at enhancing infrastructure in Nepal including electricity transmission lines and railroads, fell into recent controversy following multiple interpretations of some the agreement’s provisions.

According to the FNJ, a total of 32 cases of harassment and threatening of journalists from both state and non-state actors were documented in 2021.

A police person verbally abused and intimidated media person at www.ratosamachar.com Rajesh Thapa while reporting in Hetauda on February 8. Hetauda lies in Bagmati Province of Nepal.

Thapa told Freedom Forum that he was taking pictures of a highway blockage by the locals protesting the death of a local following an accident. The police persons, later resumed the traffic with the use of force.

"Meanwhile, traffic police on duty stopped me from taking the pictures and spoke foul on me. His misbehavior did not stop even after I shared that my identity as a media person", he added.

"I also informed a local police inspector about the incident but he ignored saying that it was a minor incident and happened because of the chaotic situation", he informed.

Freedom Forum is concerned over the intimidation meted out to media person while doing his job. This is not the first time media persons have been misbehaved while covering the protest.

FF strongly urges the security authority that it paid heed to the safety of journalists to ensure free and fair reporting atmosphere for the journalists.

Reporters with different online television channels Dipesh Raj Pandey, Hari Prarsad Pathak and Dasharath Bhandari were brutally attacked while reporting in Kathmandu on February 1. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

Vice president at the Online Television Journalists Association Kushluv KC told Freedom Forum that the reporters were attacked while reporting on the complaints of the people duped by a human resource organization, Triple Star Manpower, at its office. The organization's staffs and supporters attacked the reporters. The Manpower company was complained of defrauding in the name of foreign employment.

The reporters sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at Greencity Hospital, according to KC. KC added that they registered a complaint at the Metropolitan Police Office against the attackers. Following this, the owner of the company was arrested on February 3.

Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the attack as it is a gross violation of press freedom. Attacking journalists and obstructing them from doing their job is against the constitutionally guaranteed rights of press freedom. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to carry out fair investigation of the incident and punish the assailants.

Reporter with www.pnews.com.np Kailash Majhi was issued death threat through a letter for his reporting in Saptari district on February 15. Saptari lies in Madhesh Province of Nepal.

In a conversation with Freedom Forum, reporter Majhi shared, "I am a media person and an active Right to Information activist in the district. I have been using RTI to request public information at Saptari district's municipalities, community schools and other public offices for long. I also use the received information as news stories to make citizens aware of the ongoing public issues. But early in the morning today, I saw a letter outside the door of my house", he said.

The letter, as he informed, read: "You have been blackmailing local representatives and bureaucrats and reporting news critical to them for long. So, this is a final warning to you, if you ignore this letter and inform police or media then, we will shoot you at your house."

Then, reporter Majhi informed the local police and administration, demanding his security. He further informed the Freedom Forum that Chief District Officer had ensured that the case would be investigated.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is blatant violation of press freedom and citizen’s right to information. While every citizen has right to seek information at public agencies, use of information to make news is constitutionally guaranteed right to free press. Such incident creates panic among fellow journalists and hinders free flow of information.

A reporter with Butwal Today national daily, Ram Avatar Chaudhary received death threat while reporting in Butwal on January 28. Butwal lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.

Reporter Chaudhary shared with Freedom Forum that he had reached a local brick kiln to report on varying prices of bricks and child labour on the day of the incident.

"After I saw many children working at the kiln, I tried to talk to the owner about it. The owner not only refused to answer my questions but also threatened to kill me in the kiln", added Chaudhary.

Thereafter, the reporter informed the local police about the incident and returned back.

"On the next day, the owner was called at the police station where he apologized to us but we have demanded a written apology from him for security reasons", said Chaudhary.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is a sheer violation of journalists' right to free reporting. Moreover, child labour is one of the serious issues in Nepal and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 2000, prohibits the employment of children younger than 16 years of age into hazardous work.

Though the kiln owner apologized after the incident, such incidents may create panic among fellow journalists and affect citizens' right to access to information.

Hence, FF urges the concerned to be aware of journalists' rights and cooperate with them to contribute to social change.

Two students have been injured in a clash between locals, students and police at Ring Road on December 23, 2021, after a student was killed after being hit by a truck on the highway in Lalbandi Municipality-9.

Dipendra Yadav, 16, a student of Janajyoti Secondary School in Chandannagar Rural Municipality-1, Ratanpur, was hit by a truck (Na 3 Kha 7990) at Lalbandi Municipality-9, Bastipur on the East-West Highway on December 20.

According to DSP Madhav Prasad Budhathoki of the District Police Office, two students were injured while they were protesting for justice for their friend who had died in the accident.

Ram Kishore Kumar Sah, 15, of Lalbandi Municipality-2, and Sikindra Kumar Yadav, 16, of Chandranagar Rural Municipality-1, Ratanpur, sustained injuries on their head and fractured their right leg. They were taken to Model Hospital, Lalbandi for further treatment informed Chandra Kishore Yadav, a student of Grade nine of Janajyoti Secondary School.

Nine lawyers, including President of the Nepal Bar Association Chandeshwor Shrestha and NBA Central Committee member Prakash Maharjan, were injured today when police used force against the protesting lawyers who were staging a sit-in at the main entrance of the Supreme Court.

While Shrestha suffered minor injuries, Maharjan was hit in the head and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, according to a press release issued by the NBA.

Senior Advocate Sabita Bhandari Baral, Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association Rishiram Ghimire, advocates Kapilchandra Ghimire, Yubaraj Banjade, Nitesh Shrestha, Raman Lal Karna, and Gopal Sapkota were also injured in police action.

The lawyers were protesting in front of the Supreme Court in Kathmandu demanding Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana’s resignation.

The lawyers on Thursday also vowed not to let Rana enter the Supreme Court. They have been trying to stop the chief justice from reaching office since Friday. However, Rana was using another gate to enter his office, while lawyers staged their sit-ins in front of the main gate.

On Thursday, according to court officials, the lawyers moved towards another gate that Rana had been using, only to be stopped by security personnel. Some were injured in the scuffle.

Rishi Ghimire, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association and advocates Kapil Chandra Pokhrel and Yubaraj Banjade were also injured in the incident.

The protest in the Supreme Court first started on October 25 after justices refused to attend a full court meeting called by Rana. The justices accused Rana of not taking initiatives to bring reforms in the judiciary. The Supreme Court Bar Association and Nepal Bar Association then joined in. Hearings were affected, as judges boycotted benches.

But on Monday, five justices decided to return to benches, and four of them did hear cases assigned by Rana.

Lawyers, however, have said they will continue their protest as Rana’s resignation is their bottom line.

Justices now appear to have toned down their protest and are keen on returning to benches if cases are assigned through a raffle system. One of the demands of the protesting justices is that the chief justice should not prepare the cause list–which is a list of cases assigned to various justices.

After Thursday’s scuffle with police, the Nepal Bar has demanded that the Supreme Court administration remove security personnel other than those deployed for security of the court.

Sitaram Adhikari is the District Representative of INSEC and a reporter of a local daily online of the district named saheekhabar.com. He has been involved in raising voice against injustice and writing about the contemporary issues of human rights. Adhikari had published news titled ‘Rural Municipality Chief Fled From the Program Venue’ (topic translated in English) after which the local youth club members protested against the chief and intervened in the program. After the news was published, Youth Association Nepal’s Central Member Hemanta Bhandari wrote an insulting post about Adhikari in his social profile and shared it with 30 people and also sent him life threatening messages. The issue was not reported to the police but the Federation of Nepali Journalists and Press Chautari (union of the journalists) released a press statement regarding the incident asking to use official mediums to express their dissatisfaction and not to use social media for character assassination and defamation of the reporters.

A group of 13 people, including 11 women, who arrived in Kathmandu from Nepalgunj on Wednesday seeking justice, were rounded up on Friday evening from Maitighar Mandala where they were staging a protest. The protesters were having dinner when the police intervened and detained them.

Fourteen people from Banke district had taken a long arduous journey on foot to the national capital to demand a fair investigation into the death of Nakunni Dhobi and the disappearance of Nirmala Kurmi.

Their march for justice that covered over 500 kilometres was prompted after local authorities allegedly refused to deliver justice to Nakunni and Nirmala.

Thirty-eight-year-old Nakunni was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her home on July 20 in Ward 2 of Janaki Rural Municipality in Banke.

Fifty-two-year-old Nirmala had gone missing in January 2010 from the same rural municipality. Her disappearance had come two years after her two teenage sons were murdered within the span of one week. Neighbours and villagers say Nirmala owned a great deal of property, making her disappearance and the murder of her two sons suspicious. But Banke district police is accused of never taking her disappearance seriously.

When local residents and activists pressured the police to investigate Nirmala’s disappearance, the District Police Office, Banke on December 1 last year turned them away saying there was no point in investigating the matter as Nirmala was already dead.

When the relatives and neighbours of Nakunni and Nirmala tried to lodge complaints with the district police with the support of the Banke chapter of the National Women Rights Forum in August this year, police once again refused to investigate the cases.

Police have also used trumped up charges of “polygamy” to detain a women’s rights activist who was leading a protest against the failure to properly investigate two alleged murders linked to land acquisition.

Police initially defied an October 10 Supreme Court habeas corpus order to produce Ruby Khan, a human rights defender who had been arrested at a sit-in protest in Kathmandu. She was finally brought to the court, and released, on October 14. During her week in custody, Khan told Human Rights Watch, the police attempted to “bargain” with her saying she would be released if she ended her protest movement.

Reporter to Lumbini Television and Butwal FM Dinesh Gyawali was attacked while reporting in Butwal on October 10. Butwal lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.

Reporter Gyawali was attacked while reporting on conflict among local protestors and policepersons in the industrial area of Motipur, Butwal.

The raged public attacked Gyawali even after he showed his press identity card and said that he was journalist.

"I tried to escape the attack but fell down and other two of the protestors rescued me. I also lost my mobile in the incident", he shared with Freedom Forum.

"Other reporters however, escaped the attack. Neither Police persons nor the protesting locals cooperated with us while reporting", said Gyawali.

Reporter Gyawali has sustained injury on his head and hands. He is undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Freedom Forum condemns the attack upon journalist while reporting. In most of the cases recorded at FF, journalists have been victim of attack while covering the protest even in presence of the police persons.

Suresh Pariyar, a member of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Rupendehi, and Krishna Pandey, a journalist working for Khasyauli FM, were also attacked in the clash, but no injuries were reported as they managed to flee from the site. They have accused that the police and protesters stopped them from gathering the news.

The General Secretary of Lumbini Television Dinesh Pandey told INSEC that Gyawali bore serious head and hand injury in the attack. He had to get five stitches on his head and had bruises all over his body informed Dinesh Pandey, general secretary of Lumbini Television.

According to the victim, he was harassed for recording the video of the clash and was beaten as well.

Dinesh said, ‘I was attacked even after showing my press card. I fell off. The mob confiscated my cell phone. I have no idea what they would have done to me but two people rescued me and took me to the hospital for treatment.

According to Pandey, Gyawali was discharged from the hospital on October 10.

Media Alliance Nepal has drawn serious attention to the incident of police beating up an Avenues reporter who reached Hotel Marriott in Kathmandu to collect news.

Correspondent Sheetal Rijal and cameraman Suresh Rajak were beaten up by the police on September 10 at a Naxal-based hotel in Kathmandu. The issue of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is currently the most important issue in Nepal.

"It is the duty of the media to provide the public with information and information related to the incident," said a statement issued by Media Alliance Nepal.

The Alliance said that it was objectionable for the team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police to take the media personnel under control for a few hours.

Nepal police manhandled reporters at https://avenueskhabar.com.np/ (online news portal) Shital Rijal and his cameraperson Suresh Rajak while reporting on September 10 in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, reporter Rijal said that the incident took place outside a hotel in central Kathmandu where the reporters were trying to cover the updates of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Police persons on duty outside the hotel barred their entry into the hotel and took the reporter under control for 1.5 hours.

"We requested the officers to let us return back without reporting but in vain. Thereafter, cameraperson Rajak started recording video, then the police manhandled us and broke the camera. They did not even state a reason for mistreating us", shared Rijal.

The reporters returned back home after 1.5 hours.

Lately, MCC has been an important issue of public concern in Nepal which has drawn wide attention of the public as well as other concerned sectors

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is sheer violation of press freedom and citizen's right to information. Obstructing the journalists from doing their job depicts how hostile the environment is for them. FF strongly urges the concerned authority to address the case seriously and provide compensation to the journalists for their loss.

Sudarshan Shrestha, Chief of Arthasarokar Sudurpaschim Bureau, Jhalak Dawadi, Correspondent of Fulbari Khabar and Camera Person Hari Tiwari had complained against Krishna Giri, Chairperson of Siddhartha Community Forest at the District Police Office on August 26, 2021, accusing him of giving them a death threat.

After the locals had informed them that timber was being smuggled from Phulbari area of the community forest at Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan-14 through the connivance of employees and officials of the forest, the journalist had gone to the incident spot to verify the information.

Sudarshan Shrestha, Chief of Arthasarokar Sudurpaschim Bureau told INSEC that they had received a death threat on August 25 through a phone call.

Himal Joshi, District Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Kailali, said that action should be taken against anyone who threatens to kill a journalist who went for an on-site mission for the purpose of disseminating factual information to the citizens.

DSP Pratik Bista of the District Police Office, Kailali said that the accused would not be arrested as the victim had not lodged an FIR therefore, both parties will be called to the District Police Office for discussion on the issue.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Sudur Paschim Province, Nepal Federation of Photo Journalists, Kailali and Press Chautari Nepal have issued a press release on August 26 demanding immediate action against the accused.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has objected to the misconduct of CPN-Oli cadres on the journalists gone to cover the assembly held in front of Narayanhiti on February 6, 2021.

In a press statement signed by General Secretary of FNJ Ramesh Bista on February 6, the federation said that Binu Subedi, a journalist of Kantipur Daily, and Dipesh Shahi, a journalist of Naya Patrika Daily were not allowed to cover the news by the cadres even when they had shown the press pass.

According to the victim journalists, the cadres stopped them and blamed them of sending negative information regarding their assembly. They were blamed of having negative intention and were not allowed to cover the incident. The leaders of the party said they were unaware of the incident and they got to know about it through the news. They also apologized for the behaviour of the student cadres.

“This incident of harassment of journalists carrying independent professional responsibilities and obstruction during news gathering is an interference in the freedom of the press. The federation strongly condemns this anti-press freedom move,”- mentioned in the statement.

According to the victim journalist Binu Subedi, the cadres of the party had obstructed the news gathering and prevented him from moving forward. They had misbehaved with her and did not allow her to cover the event.

Cadres of the Nepal Students Union (NSU) were arrested from the Exhibition Road, Kathmandu on June 8, 2021 for protesting against the government. Those arrested were identified as Sanjeeb Dhakal, 27, Manish Khadka Chhetri, 26, Ramesh Khadka, 31, and Samrat Chhetri, 30.

According to Deepak Bhattarai, General Secretary of the NSU, the cadres have been arrested by the police for protesting against the government’s proposal to reduce the trade deficit by extracting stones, gravel and sand.

Similarly, Chairperson of NSU, Rajiv Dhungana has issued a statement demanding the unconditional release of those arrested cadres.

Police have arrested 18 members of the Civil Society’who were protesting in Baluwatar.

During the protest, police arrested writer and campaigner Khagendra Sangraula, Narayan Wagle, Yug Pathak, Sanjeev Upreti, Archana Thapa, Sarita Pariyar, Rita Pariyar, Praneta, Bhaskar Gautam, Anubhav Ajit, Yubraj Ghimire, Sangeet, Bhawana Rawat, Nirgha Nabin, Sashi Bikram Karki, Saurabh Karki, Saurabh Neupane, Anjan Babu.

Civil leader Narayan Wagle informed that the police had arrested 18 people including him while they were preparing to protest against the government’s plan to give affiliation to a medical college belonging to a person close to the government.

They were arrested by the police while preparing to protest against the government’s preparation to affiliate the medical colleges of a person close to the government.

They are currently kept at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Kamalpokhari. DSP Khumlal Bhusal of Kamalpokhari Police Circle said that they took control of the protestors who were about to initiate a protest during the prohibition period.

The doctors and leaders of civil society have been protesting against the professorship of VC Gyanendra Giri. Initially the protest started from Dharan. According to the students and the doctors of the institute, there are financial irregularities, corruption, and political intervention in the BPKIHS's services to deteriorate. Doctors, students, and staffs protested demanding reform at the institute for the past 27 days. The chairperson of Medical and Dentistry Teachers’ Welfare Society’s Chairperson Dr. Bishnu Pokhrel had posted that there are ‘irregularities’ in the institute. The students and doctors have asked Dr, Pokhrel to submit clarification over his social media post on the ‘irregularities’ at the institute. The doctors and students have sought clarification from the VC regarding media reports related to his professorial title. They have sought details about the university providing him the title of professorship and research work (along with the digital object identifier) he carried out.

Photojournalist Nimesh Jung Rai associated with www.nepallive.com- a news portal- was attacked by the police persons in the federal capital, Kathmandu, on July 3.

Rai was taking photographs of the torch rally organized by the agitated student wings of five major opposition political parties. The torch rally was begun from Minbhawan, Kathmandu.

As the rally moved toward the main road, the police began thrashing the protestors and also baton-charged the photojournalist Rai. Rai was beaten while he was shooting the protest.

Rai informed, “Although I produced my Press ID Card and showed camera, the police persons continued beating me.” He got injury on his knee with baton-charge.

Freedom Forum condemns the attack on photojournalist Rai. It is sheer violation of press freedom. The security persons must respect journalists’ right to free reporting. Suppressing journalists is the suppression of information and press freedom, which is not acceptable in democracy. The high authority of Nepal Police should instruct the lower level staffs on how they could respect journalists and separate journalists while taking control the protest.

Reporter with an online television, Hello Nepal, Milan KC was thrashed by police persons in Chitwan on July 8. Chitwan lies in the Bagmati Province of Nepal.

According to reporter KC, he was attacked while reporting a protest staged by the family members of a local Sujita Bhandari whose dead body was found in a forest some days back. They have been demanding fair investigation of the murder of Bhandari.

"While I was taking video of the police taming the protestors, one of the police persons baton-charged me. He did not stop even after I showed my identity card", said reporter KC.

KC sustained deep injury on his legs and his camera was damaged in the incident.

"One of the senior officials has, however, assured me of providing compensation to repair my camera", he shared.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident because it is sheer violation of press freedom and freedom of expression. The police must stop such atrocity on media persons who are bringing news to the public despite adversity caused by COVID-19. FF strongly urges the high level of Nepal Police to investigate the incident and take action against the police persons beating journalists.

Nabin Chaudhary, 30, of Jaleshwor, Mahottari correspondent of AP 1 Television was assaulted by Sanjeev Kumar Raya, Chairperson of the Local Road Consumers’ Committee because Chaudhary had taken a video of the poor quality of work done by the construction team of Raya. The road is in Pataili of Jaleshwor Municipality-5. The road here was pitched on May 26 and according to the locals, it had collapsed the next day. According to the victim and locals, the road was never pitched previously and later the municipality had decided to concretize the road before the end of the fiscal year. The municipality had allocated a budget of NRs. 400,000 and the construction work was completed on May 27. According to the locals, the road was pitched directly on the muddy foundation without fulfilling any construction protocols. The next day, the road was already in a bad condition. The locals had informed Chaudhary to visit and cover the incident. After monitoring the site, Nabin had gone to discuss the matter with the accused after gathering some information using his mobile phone. But he was assaulted and he escaped the place saving his life. The complaint was filed after the accused had seized the communication devices of the victim and deleted the video he had captured. Accused Raya had also confiscated Nabin's motorbike. The victim journalist lodged a complaint at the District Police Office on May 27, 2021, demanding for justice. Even after the complaint was filed, the road has been maintained twice but is still in a mad condition due to its quality and of course due to monsoon. The Mahottari branch of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has shown serious concern over the incident.